Switch for multispeed electric motor

ABSTRACT

A switch for instantaneous control of the speed of an electric motor associated with electric pumps, central heating circulators, fans, air conditioners, and the like apparatus. The switch comprises a contact holder element provided with a recess engaged by one of the sides of a removable polygonal plate whose sides are provided with printed connections designed according to different diagrams.

United States Patent [19 Berthier i [111 '3,s2s,703 [4 1 July 23, 1974 SWITCH FOR MULTISPEED ELECTRIC MOTOR Inventor: Georges Berthier, Villeurbanne,

France Assignee: Emerjy, Villeurbanne, France; a

part interest Filed: Feb. 14,1973

Appl. No.: 332,266

Foreign Application Priority Data Feb. 23, 1972 France .J 72.06739 US. Cl. 200/46 Int. Cl. H01h 43/08 Field of Search '200/46; 317/134 References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 11/1963 Holzer 200/46 X 3,660,831 5/1972 Nicola et al 200/46 U X OTHER PUBLICATIONS IBM Technical Disclosure Bulletin, J. A. Crenshaw, Printed Circuit Lock Mechanism; Vol. 13, No. 11,

April, 1971.

- Primary Examiner-Herman .l. Hohauser Attorney, Agent, or FirmAlexander & Dowell ABSTRACT A switch for instantaneous control of the speed of an electric motor associated with electric pumps, central heating circulators, fans, air conditioners, and the like apparatus.

The switch comprises a contact holder element provided with a recess engaged by one of the sides of a removable polygonal plate whose sidesare provided with printed connections designed according to different diagrams.

9 Claims, 3 Drawing Figures SWITCH FOR MULTISPEED ELECTRIC MOTOR 7 DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION The present invention relates to electric motors used to drive pumps, central heating circulators, fans, air conditioners, and other apparatus in which it is advantageous to vary the motor speed in response to the requirements or characteristics, of the system associated with the apparatus.

In known arrangements the speed of electric motors of this type is controlled by variation of the connections of the different windings, and/or by introduction of capacitors or resistors. It is understood that in these conditions changes in the operating speed entail difficult and complex connecting and disconnecting operations, requiring the presence of a specialist whose knowledge of the structure of the equipment is perfect.

The object of the invention is to eliminate the above disadvantages, and relates to a switch structure capable of changing simply and rapidly the operating speed of a multispeed motor. r

The switch of the invention comprises the combination of a fixed element provided with a recess containing a number of contacts connected to the windings and motor speed control equipment, and at least one removable insulation plate carrying, on at least one 13 constituting housings for electric contacts 14. As shown in FIG. 3 each contact 14 is in the fonn of a clamp opening in a direction parallel to recess 12. The back wall of the clamp is integral with a vertical extension 15 engaging a slot provided in block 10. A conductor 16 is associated with each contact 14.

Insulation plate 2 consists of a square element 20 whose corners are cut at 21 so that the length of each free edge is equal to that of recess 12. Each of the said free edges is provided with a transverse slot 22 located laterally to the bisector of the side concerned. Conducside, printed electric connections arranged according to a determined diagram in such a way that, once engaged in the recess of the above cited contact holder element, the plate provides automatically for connec tions corresponding to the diagram arranged on the side introduced into the said recess.

In a preferred embodiment of the above arrangement the switch comprises a single polygonal plate carrying on each side a different printed diagram. It is understood that the number of sides of the polygonal insulation plate depends on the number of different speed adjustments of the particular motor. Each side is advantageously provided with a mark printed on the plate to facilitate selection by the user of the side correspond ing to the desired speed, and to show the operating speed at which the motor is regulated, for example, by simple reading of the mark appearing through an opening provided in the protective cover mounted on the switch unit. r a 1 The attached drawing illustrating one example will clarify the invention.

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of the contact holder or connector element of the switch of the invention prior to mounting on the insulation base.

FIG. 2 is a perspective view of the base and the insu-' lation plate. I

FIG. 3 is an axial section through the switch, with contact holder element fastened, insulation plate inserted, and protective cover positioned in place.

In the drawings, reference numeral 1 designates the contact holder element, numeral 2 the insulation plate, and numeral 3 the base carrying the said element 1. This base can be mounted on one of the walls of an electric motor or associated apparatus housing.

Element 1 consists of a block 10 of insulation material (molded synthetic material or the like) comprising a vertical face provided with a laterally extending horizontal extension 11. The free face of extension 11 is provided with an opening or recess 12 of elongated rectangular shape. The internal portion determined in extension 11 by recess 12 is provided with vertical slots mt connections or junctions 23 whose ends are spaced by a distance equal to the spacing between the contacts 14 of element 1 are printed on. both sides of the said slot 22 by a method customary to the printed circuit industry. The center of plate 2 is perforated at 24. Marks 21 are arranged around opening 24 and consist in this example of numerals l 2, 3,. and 4 indicating the four sides of square plate 2. It will be appreciated that the printed connections 23 on the four sides are established according to different diagrams.

Contact holder element 1 is designed to be fixed, for

example, by a removable clamp 1'7 (FIGS. 2 and 3) arranged in an opening 30 (FIG. 2) provided for this pur pose in the horizontal portion of the raised bottom 31 of base 3 directly in front of a vertical back wall'32.

and/or, to different electric resistors controlling the motor speed. It will be observed that the slot 13 located opposite projection 35 of bottom 31 contains no contact or conductor.

It will be easily understood that the four free edges of plate 2 can be introduced into the recess 12 in element 1, slot 22 fitting around projection 35 which, because of its lateral position, constitutes a guide and prevents introduction of the said plate into the element in an incorrect position. Printed connections 23 provide for a determined coupling between contacts 14 so that the motor'operates at the desired speed. Plate 2 is held in place by a screw 40 (FIG. 3) extending'through passage 34 and engaging a thread 50 in the wall 5 of the motor or apparatus housing. The head of screw 40 rests on the upper wall of protective cover 4 provided advantageously with an abutment sleeve 41 penetrating opening24 inplate 2. Cover 4 is provided with an opening 42 permitting observation from the outside of mark 25 corresponding to the side of plate 2 engaging recess 12. i

7 Under these conditions a simple glance through opening 42 is sufficient to determine the operating speed of the motor. When the operator desires to change the speed he removes screw 40 and cover 4, pulls out plate 2, and introduces the side corresponding to the desired connection diagram into recess 12 in element 1. After cover 4 has been replaced the switch is ready for use again.

The advantages of the switch of the invention will be easily understood. Changes in the electric motor speed can be made very rapidly without adjustment since it is sufficient to know the different speeds corresponding to marks 25 carried by plate 2.

Obviously, the shape of the said plate 2 may be triangular, pentagonal, hexagonal, etc. as determined by the different rates of speed of the electric motor. The arrangement of contact holder element 1 and the number of contacts provided therein may vary. Other ways of fastening plate on base 3 may be provided, and the structure of the said plate may vary in any appropriate manner.

It is understood that in some cases plate 2 may be provided with only one connection diagram, and the motor speed is changed by introduction of a different plate carrying a different diagram into contact holder element 1.

I claim:

1. A switching device for a multispeed electric motor of the kind wherein speed control is obtained by modification of the winding connections and/or by insertion in the winding circuits of auxiliary elements such as capacitors and/or resistors, comprising in combination:

a fixed contact holder;

a number of resilient contact-forming clamps,-each having two branches situated in a mean common plane, carriedby said fixed holder and disposed thereon along a substantially rectilinear row with the mean common plane of the branches of each clamp being substantially perpendicular to said row and with some at least of said clamps being connected with the winding circuits and with the auxiliary elements of said motor;

a removable insulating plate having at least one substantially rectilinear edge which may be introduced into said clamps;

contacts carried by said plate along said one edge to cooperate with some at least of said clamps when said one edge is properly positioned in same;

electrical connections carried by said plate to connect with each other some at least of said plate contacts;

and means to guide said plate laterally during introduction of said one edge thereof into said clamps to insure proper registration between said clamps and said plate contacts.

2. In .a switching device'as claimed in claim I, said contact holder being formed of an insulating block having a transverse extension formed with an elongated recess in which said contacts-forming clamps are disposed.

3. In a switching device as claimed in claim 2, each of said clamps having an extension substantially perpendicular to its branches and said block being formed with slots substantially perpendicular to said recess to receive said extensions. 1

4. In a switching device as claimed in claim 2: said insulating plate being of polygonal shape to comprise more than one rectilinear edge, with some at least of said rectilinear edges carrying contacts to cooperate with said clamps;

and the corners of said insulating plate being cut away to determine lateral shoulders void of any contact and a projecting central contact-carrying portion, with said central-carrying portion having a length substantially equal to the length of said recess, said shoulders limiting the introduction of said central portion into said recess.

5. In a switching device as claimed in claim 1, said means to guide-said plate laterally including a transverse slot formed in said rectilinear edge and spaced from the bisector thereof, and a projection carried by said holder to cooperate with said slot.

6. In a switching device as claimed in claim 1:

said plate having a central opening;

said holder being carried by a base with said row of clamps being substantially parallel to said base;

and said plate being fixed on said base by a screw passing through said opening.

7. A switching device as claimed in claim 6, further comprising a cover removable fixed on said base by said screw.

8. In a switching device as claimed in claim 1:

said plate having more than one contact-carrying edge;

and said plate bearing a mark adjacent each of said contact-carrying edges. 9. In a switching plate device as claimed in claim 8:

said plate having a central opening;

said contact holder being carried by a base with said row of clamps being substantially parallel to said base;

said plate being fixed on said base by a screw passed through said opening;

. said device further comprising a cover removably fixed on said base by said screw;

and said cover having an opening superposed on the mark of said plate corresponding to the edge thereof engaged in said clamps. 

1. A switching device for a multispeed electric motor of the kind wherein speed control is obtained by modification of the winding connections and/or by insertion in the winding circuits of auxiliary elements such as capacitors and/or resistors, comprising in combination: a fixed contact holder; a number of resilient contact-forming clamps, each having two branches situated in a mean common plane, carried by said fixed holder and disposed thereon along a substantially rectilinear row with the mean common plane of the branches of each clamp being substantially perpendicular to said row and with some at least of said clamps being connected with the winding circuits and with the auxiliary elements of said motor; a removable insulating plate having at least one substantially rectilinear edge which may be introduced into said clamps; contacts carried by said plate along said one edge to cooperate with some at least of said clamps when said one edge is properly positioned in same; electrical connections carried by said plate to connect with each other some at least of said plate contacts; and means to guide said plate laterally during introduction of said one edge thereof into said clamps to insure proper registration between said clamps and said plate contacts.
 2. In a switching device as claimed in claim 1, said contact holder being formed of an insulating block having a transverse extension formed with an elongated recess in which said contacts-forming clamps are disposed.
 3. In a switching device as claimed in claim 2, each of said clamps having an extension substantially perpendicular to its branches and said block being formed with slots substantially perpendicular to said recess to receive said extensions.
 4. In a switching device as claimed in claim 2: said insulating plate being of polygonal shape to comprise more than one rectilinear edge, with some at least of said rectilinear edges carrying contacts to cooperate with said clamps; and the corners of said insulating plate being cut away to determine lateral shoulders void of any contact and a projecting central contact-carrying portion, with said central-carrying portion having a length substantially equal to the length of said recess, said shoulders limiting the introduction of said central portion into said recess.
 5. In a switching device as claimed in claim 1, said means to guide said plate laterally including a transverse slot formed in said rectilinear edge and spaced from the bisector thereof, and a projection carried by said holder to cooperate with said slot.
 6. In a switching device as claimed in claim 1: said plate having a central opening; said holder being carried by a base with said row of clamps being substantially parallel to said base; and said plate being fixed on said base by a screw passing through said opening.
 7. A switching device as claimed in claim 6, further comprising a cover removable fixed on said base by said screw.
 8. In a switching device as claimed in claim 1: said plate having more than one contact-carrying edge; and said plate bearing a mark adjacent each of said contact-carrying edges.
 9. In a switching plate device as claimed in claim 8: said plate having a central opening; said contact holder being carried by a base with said row of clamps being substantially parallel to said base; said plate being fixed on said base by a screw passed through said opening; said device further comprising a cover removably fixed on said base by said screw; AND said cover having an opening superposed on the mark of said plate corresponding to the edge thereof engaged in said clamps. 